Italo Calvino and Kafka's Metamorphosis

[Munro]

Does anyone know if the novel Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino (I know there are some Calvino readers here, hope you guys know it) is a modern transformation of Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka?

I need to study some transformations other than Steven Berkoff's film version, and I read somewhere that Cosmicomics is related to it...any help would be greatly appreciated.

[AbdoRinbo]

Does anyone know if the novel Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino (I know there are some Calvino readers here, hope you guys know it) is a modern transformation of Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka?

I need to study some transformations other than Steven Berkoff's film version, and I read somewhere that Cosmicomics is related to it...any help would be greatly appreciated.

I haven't actually read Cosmicomics by Calvino, though I have read t zero--the second part of a series of short story collections including Cosmicomics. I can't imagine the Metamorphosis has much to do with Calvino's sci-fi short stories, but I remember one of the stories in t zero was about Alexander Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo. Perhaps Kafka's work found its way into one of the CC short stories in the same way?

[Munro]

It's cool, I've ordered a copy in anyway and I suppose I'll find out by myself. Reading the synopsis, though, I'm starting to doubt that it is a transformation. Anyhow, I'll post my results, just for the sake of answering my own question in front of everyone.

[AbdoRinbo]

I want to read Invisible Cities as soon as I finish the book I'm on right now, but I will definitely pick up Cosmicomics after that. If it is anything like t zero (as I imagine it is), then it should be as cunning and classic as all of the other Calvino stories.

[Koa]

I'm still astonished about how popular Calvino is.
Though I don't know the book you're talking about (all my knowledge about him is in the other thread :oops: )

[AbdoRinbo]

I'd have to think long and hard about it, but I think Calvino may be my favorite author (I hate saying that, though, because it changes so often; but in the end I like to hear a good story told).

[Munro]

I found out today that I can't access perfectly wonderful literature in my country - Cosmicomics is out of print in Australia along with some of Calvino's other books, and I'll have to get it shipped in from somewhere where people are educated and like to read. ARGHHHHH!
My country is so ****.

That's it, I'm leaving (in a few years...and I'd decided that a while ago anyhow).

[AbdoRinbo]

(I just picked up Cosmicomics this morning, hee hee hee hee).

[AbdoRinbo]

OK, it is now a week or so later and I have started reading Cosmicomics. Munro, trust me that this is a book is well worth taking every possible measure to obtain. It is fantastic, I've never read short stories like these before. The first story, 'The Distance of the Moon', is an immensely pleasurable read. It makes me wish there were colors as vivid as the ones Calvino describes so I could paint a portrait of it. I'll need weeks to inwardly digest this.

[Munro]

Really that good? You're making me jealous, Abdo. Don't all the characters have weird names that can't be pronounced? How fun.
I'll order a copy from the nearest educated country when the holidays start. I look forward to discussing it with you.